" We don't do base."

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I bought a base 2016 Escape last year and had no problem finding it.....there were plenty around.

I went for the base model in order to avoid a turbo engine after a bad experience with a Cruze turbo. (I'm still not sold on the longevity of smaller engines using turbos to boost power beyond larger base model engines especially when MPGs are basically the same).

The base model Escape, with the tried and true 2.5 engine, has been great....
 
Seems crazy a sales guy doesn't just sit down and find and sell you the car. Its going to be at MSRP minus any incentives from the manufacturer, but so what, the dealer makes $2k on it for a couple hours of work.
We bought a base Tracker and a new sales guy actually answered the phone, and then found one for us at a nearby dealer and we bought it, cash sale at MSRP minus 8.5k in GM rebates, and everyone was happy, except maybe GM.

Maybe next time a sales guy brushes you off, ask the receptionist who the next sales guy is up, maybe they want to sell a car today?
 
Originally Posted By: bioburner
I know I have seen the base models around here in MN are from Enterprise etc being rentals. My Scion was bought on east coast then got moved here by private party.


Well, it might be different on a model-by-model basis, but it's been my experience that Rental Fleet spec models are not available via the retail dealer network at all, but through Fleet Sales division ... they are not simply Base models, they are different than Base although they are low specification.
 
Originally Posted By: RedOakRanch
Go get a Subaru!

Come on guys, the OP is in Michigan.
Him buying non-"Michigan" brands will mean family/co-workers wrath.
 
Op,
since you are not on a budge/in a hurry, i would suggest coupe different dealers (maybe start with internet sales department first), or comeback to same dealers end of the year....or end of jan/feb
wanting to make a sale/any sale may soften them
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Seems crazy a sales guy doesn't just sit down and find and sell you the car. Its going to be at MSRP minus any incentives from the manufacturer, but so what, the dealer makes $2k on it for a couple hours of work.
We bought a base Tracker and a new sales guy actually answered the phone, and then found one for us at a nearby dealer and we bought it, cash sale at MSRP minus 8.5k in GM rebates, and everyone was happy, except maybe GM.

Maybe next time a sales guy brushes you off, ask the receptionist who the next sales guy is up, maybe they want to sell a car today?


Nevermind the receptionist ... just stand up in the salesman's cubicle and shout out loud "who wants to sell a car today" ... loud enough for the Sales Manager, and any lingering customers, to hear would be perfect. And walk out of that cubicle straight to the first salesman who answers.
 
It's a hint they are selling well. As soon as a model becomes a hot seller the base, lower profit, versions become hard to find, on purpose.
 
Retired military friend wanted a new Camry a few years back with the V6 and a manual, among other things. His local dealer jerked him around for a month "looking" for the car, no doubt in the hope that his current vehicle would give him trouble and he'd have to take what they WANTED to sell him. After almost a month of waiting he started calling around and found what he wanted 100 miles away. He bought it and shortly thereafter ran into the local store salesman who told him they "might" have a lead on a Camry at such and such a dealer. He said "I know, but it's too late I bought it from them".
 
Originally Posted By: pbm
I bought a base 2016 Escape last year and had no problem finding it.....there were plenty around.

I went for the base model in order to avoid a turbo engine after a bad experience with a Cruze turbo. (I'm still not sold on the longevity of smaller engines using turbos to boost power beyond larger base model engines especially when MPGs are basically the same).

The base model Escape, with the tried and true 2.5 engine, has been great....


That's probably the model I'd get. I don't need a turbocharged engine, the 2.5 can handle my towing neeeds out of a "car" and I definitely have no need for AWD.
 
Another tip: Just use the ford website and search dealer inventories. A quick search here shows that within 30 miles of my location, there are over 100 base model Escapes sitting on dealer lots right now.

Not sure where this idea you can only get the base model escape at enterprise, etc... comes from. Local dealer has over 25 of them on the lot today, ready to go...

That's how I found my truck too - no working with a dealer to find it - I found the dealer that had what I wanted, knew my pricing, and in the end it was very easy...
 
I've bought many base model vehicles and I understand the desire for simplicity and lowest cost possible, but is there THAT big a price difference between special ordering a base model and buying one locally with some options?
 
First couple that popped up in my search had zero options added (cost wise). Everything that was added were standard things for a car sold here - such as front license plate bracket and block heater (yes, they are no charge here...)
 
Originally Posted By: Virtus_Probi
I had sorta the opposite problem with the Equinox...I wanted to test drive a V6 and the salesman acted like I was an idiot.
"EVERYBODY is buying the 4s for the gas mileage...we don't keep the V6 in stock!"
This was back when regular was $4/gallon, BTW.
I asked when he might have one on the lot for me to test drive, and he said he had no idea and made no move to find out. I told him there was no way I was buying a 4 cylinder and he basically waved me off and walked away. It was OK because I didn't care for the looks of the thing or the way the cargo area was laid out, the V6 would have had to have been a real burner to draw me in.



I still remember looking to buy my first new car back in 1982. I stopped by the local Lincoln-Mercury dealer to check out the new and hot(for the time)Capri 5.0 HO V8. The sixtyish salesmen informed me that due to the Capri's poor gas mileage not many people would want one- so they weren't ordering any.
Moron...
 
Originally Posted By: pbm
I bought a base 2016 Escape last year and had no problem finding it.....there were plenty around.

I went for the base model in order to avoid a turbo engine after a bad experience with a Cruze turbo. (I'm still not sold on the longevity of smaller engines using turbos to boost power beyond larger base model engines especially when MPGs are basically the same).

The base model Escape, with the tried and true 2.5 engine, has been great....



And that what a few folks have told me....they seem to like the ol' 2.5. I figure since I plan to buy and not lease-and knowing my wife can sometimes have a lead foot-a non turbo might be better long term for us.....

How do you like it's get up an go compared to the turboboost?
 
Originally Posted By: JTK
I've bought many base model vehicles and I understand the desire for simplicity and lowest cost possible, but is there THAT big a price difference between special ordering a base model and buying one locally with some options?




With the Nox....not really-though it doesn't have any deal to start with either (unless you like leasing)

The Escape sometimes has nice rebates...on all of the models...
 
Okay...looks to be more of a GM issue now...I have a Ford dealership willing to do what I want.


Talked to another GM dealership, and they laughed at what I wanted to do....
frown.gif
 
First, do you have a relationship with a fleet sales person? They "normal" guys on the lot are clueless and try to upsell when there is no upsale to have. So see if the dealer has a fleet/commercial specialist. I do all of my job "business" with one guy

To the OP email the (multiple) dealers and say you will buy a "base" in the next two weeks and the dealer with best price gets the sale. Tell them it is a "company" car too and you don't care what equipment is in the vehicle. You are not driving it, only paying for it. The "hungry" dealers or those with a good internet-sales side will respond. You might get lucky and hit a dealer with a mid-trim vehicle that it just wants to move.

I buy fleet vehicles but have to deal with contract pricing (across the state dealership). I just call up my local and see if he can beat that contract price. And then we are done (on his end, my paperwork issues just start).
 
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